Portland Therapy Center
Stacey Vallas

Stacey Vallas (she/her)

Professional Counselor Associate

MS

Supervisor: Kerri Anderson-Linde, LPC

I'll meet you where you are with openness, warmth, curiosity, and humor. I look forward to working together with you!

Client Status

accepting clients

Contact

971-220-2206

1906 SW Madison St.

Suite 211

Portland, OR 97205

Telehealth

Email Website

At a Glance

Me

Rate: $85-$150

Provides free initial consultation

Provides telehealth services

Practicing Since: 2017

Languages: English

Services

  • Individual
  • Relationship
  • Teen

Insurances Accepted

  • Out of Pocket

My Ideal Client

I counsel individuals and couples with diverse backgrounds and experiences seeking support with a range of issues, including life transitions, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, trauma, relationship problems, and generally feeling stuck or lost. I have worked on a crisis line, in a community counseling center, and in a university counseling center. My practice integrates psychodynamic, emotion-focused, and existential therapies, and I tailor my approach to best meet your needs.

My Approach to Helping

I believe each of us is drawn toward fulfilling connections with others and with our most life-affirming self, that inner voice that guides us toward what we truly feel and what most deeply matters to us. Sometimes, though, because of hurtful relationships past or present, self-doubt, loss, trauma, or life transitions, we lose touch with that inner wisdom. We feel lost or empty, or get stuck in anxiety, anger, confusion, or low self-esteem, and need support hearing and trusting that inner voice again. Too often we hide from our pain or try to tough it out alone. That you are here means you are open to trying a different path. I am mindful of how I bring my privileged and marginalized identities into our work together. I value collaborating to create a therapeutic alliance in which clients feel safe and honored exploring all dimensions of their identities. I love the work of therapy--helping others connect with a deeper sense of themselves and create more balanced, joyful lives.

Why I Became a Therapist

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern and a Nationally Certified Counselor. I received my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Portland State University and also hold a PhD in English and American Literature from Stanford University. Before becoming a counselor, I taught literature and humanities to college students for many years. I’ve always been drawn to the transformative power of stories to illuminate our deepest selves and our links to each other, to history, and to community.

Techniques I Use

Specialties

  • Psychodynamic  External link

    I believe relationships, including one's relationship to oneself, are the foundation of mental health and well being. I will support you in exploring the ways your past relationships have shaped your sense of self and how you relate to others now. I value creating a strong, collaborative relationship that fosters fresh perspectives, exploration, healing, and growth.

  • Emotionally Focused External link

    Emotions can illuminate our genuine needs and guide us in fulfilling them. But when our feelings aren't recognized and valued, we learn to respond to life with patterns of emotion that undermine our well being and even mask what we authentically feel. I will support your experiencing and working through of your own emotional patterns to gain clarity about your authentic feelings and needs.

Issues I Treat

Specialties

  • Self-Esteem External link

    Problems with self-esteem touch many people and are at the root of many mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. I believe strengthening self-esteem is at the heart of successful therapy. I will get to know you without judgment and help you cultivate a more compassionate relationship with yourself so you are empowered to act on your strengths and make the changes you want in life.

  • Anxiety External link

    I have experience working with clients struggling with various kinds of anxiety, such as anxiety concerning self-worth, relationships, socializing, performance, health and aging. I can support you in understanding the roots of your anxiety as well as present triggers and skills to manage and lighten anxiety that is getting in the way of your living more fully and joyfully.

  • Depression External link

    Everyone feels sad or hopeless at times, but when you're depressed it can feel like change and well being are impossible. I am trained in how to diagnose and treat various kinds of depression, some caused by specific events or life changes, others more long-term and deeply rooted. I have experience supporting and empowering clients find new ways of both relieving and managing their depression.

  • Suicidal Ideation External link

    Thoughts of suicide are common and are usually signposts to a person's unmet needs for connection and meaning. Often these thoughts and feelings come from past hurt or trauma. As a crisis line volunteer and a therapist, l have extensive trauma-informed training and experience in suicide intervention and helping people better understand and heal the suffering at the core of suicidal thoughts.

Contact Stacey

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